Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1887-01-20
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.


of attorney general for the territory
but We have not seen or felt that necessi
ty, and We have not seen or felt the
benefit of the Office during the two year:
it has been in existence. At the time Of
ito creation it was regarded by most
whom we heard speak Of it, as sinccure
to give some man position without any
labor attached, and with sufficient com
pensation to give the Office dignity. 1t
has run two years and there has been he
showing to the tax payers that any scr
vices were rendered to the territory
adequate to the compensation paid, or
has there been any public showing that
The Office could not be dispensed with,
without injury. The county attorneys
seem to have been able to attend to the
business Of the different counties, without
assistance Of the attorney general, and
there has been no complaint that the
interests Of the people have not been well
protected by them, as much so as II
there had been On Encouragement in
their counsel on every occasion where the
services Of an attorney for the people
had been called for. We are favorable
to having all needed counsel for the
different counties, and If by reason Of
want Of skill in any county attorney to
manage the affairs ofthe county with
safety it should DO found necessary
to employ more skill than usual; there
can be found in most Of tho counties
local attorneys, who, for reasonable fee,
would be ready and willing to come Tor.
ward and assist the county attorney in
any difficult cases that might arise, and
al mileage Of an attorney general would
Be saved to the county. Perhaps we
may be deemed too penuricus, in behalf
Of the territory; if so we think it is the
duty Of some 10 the interest Of economy
to point out the necessity and benefits Of
such an attorney general. and when made
clear We shall DO o. much in favor Of
such an officer as any one. But as VIC
now look upon the question; we think it
% DO comparatively useless Office to the
people, and If all county matters were to
be referred to him and be governed by
his directions, the interest Of the county
attorneys would Be- greatly lessenei in
their cases, and we apprehend county
affairs would not be as readily and eff.
uiently attended to As by the county
attorneys unaided and uncontrolled by
al attorney general. Who is the at.
torney general Of Washington Territory ?
Who Of Montana? Who Of Wyoming
If other territories thrive and prosper
without such an Office why not we
The Indebtedness Of the territory, beyond
the cost Of the capitol building and that
Of the Insane Asylum, has augmented
during the past year, about S3l 900, and
the people feel themselves burdened with
taxation, which if it is to be Increased
from year to year to pay for services Of
officers, who are to be merely ornamental
instead Of useful, our people will soon
rebel or seek some other cline where
taxes are more 10 keeping with our
needs. The people are willing to pay
the expenses of on economical govern.
ment, and will make great self-denial to
promptly meet the tax collectors with
the amount Of their assessments when
due. But when they cannot see the
propriety Of needless expenditures in our
territorial government they lAse faith in
those who administer the government,
and show disrespect for the laws and will
seek to evade them and avoid the officers
when they approach them with the tax
list. On the other hand where they are
ven satisfied that no more is demanded
Of them than is necessary for support Of
On economical government, they will meet
the tax gatherer with bold front and
pay each his dues and 90 on his way
without marmur or missiving. The
sentiments expressed above have their
force with US, and if others differ let
them speak that our people may know
why the Office should be retained. We
do not want the Office merely to foster
and bolster partisan ends. At the time
Of the creation Of the Office, it was
charged to be one Of Gov. Bunu's pet
shemes to compensate one Of his schemers
who had greatly assisted in carrying
bic pet measures through the legislature.
Has there been any change in the con-
dition Of things in the territory to create
] demand for such an Office that did not
sxist then. If it was a mere sinecure
hen, why is it not as much so now =?
Let him who knows answer the question
o the people.
There seems to be no hope that the